Means for and method of facilitating repair of fabrics



MEANS Fon AND METHCD oF FAGILITATINGREPAIR on FABRICS Filed prljz. lgzv,

Patented July 30, 1929.

UNITED srass IRVEN H. WILSEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MEANS FOR AND METHOD OF FACILITATING REPAIR FABRICS.

Application filed April 25, 1927.

This invention relates to a novel method of and means for arresting andpreventing the enlargement of holes or t-ears in fabric or like materialand for facilitating the repair' thereof., p

It is a well known fact that breakage of even a single thread in aknitted fabric, as for example, a silk stocking, results in a soca-lledrun which rapidly traverses the full length of the stocking from thepoint of rupture. These runs are unsightly and render the 4,stockingunfit to wear by fastidious dressers. The initial break of the threadusually occurs while the stocking is being worn and therefore repair ofthe break at the moment is usually impracticable. If the progress ofthel run can be arrested immediately or shortly after the break occurs,the damage can usually be localized in a small area so that the extentof mending required when the stocking is removed from the wearers limbcan` be minimized.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a novel means andmethod of arresting the damage or rupture of a stocking while it isbeing worn and to facilitate the permanent repair of the damagedportion.

To this end I provide a temporary holding or arresting device which hasthe property of engaging the fabric at or around the damaged area andwhich is easily insertable into the stocking to be placed in engagementwith the fabric and to be held in such engagement by the tension of thefabric against the limb of the wearer. I also provide a device which hasfabric-engaging properties and a gap or slot to expose the damagedportion, the latter device being arranged to be applied to the stockingat or around the damaged area on the opposite side of the fabric fromthe firstmentioned device, whereby the two devices cooperate temporarilyin holding' the fabric until the first mentioned device is removed.Thereupon the damaged portion of the fabric will be exposed along theslot or gap in the second device so that the damaged portion may beeasily mended by a suitable needle, crochet hook or the like whilefirmly supported in that position. v

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view on an enlarged scale, of one embodiment of theinvention showing the holding tdevice, imposition on a piece ofmaterialifmt'! 5";

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Serial No. 186,335.

Figs. 3, 5, 6 and 8 are plan views of other forms ofthe invention.

4, 7 and 9 are sectionalv views ofthe above taken on the lines 4 4, 7-7and 9 9 of Figs. 3, 6 and 8, respectively.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a means for facilitat-ing repair. l Y

Fig. 11 is a section ofthe samev taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Vhile I have shown and will herein describe in detail several `preferredembodiments of this invention, itis tobe understood that I do notthereby intend to limit the invention to those specific forms disclosedbut intend to cover all modilications and alternative constructionsfalling within the spirit and scope ot the invention as expressed in theappended claims.

Generally, the preferred means for attaining a temporary mend or forarresting the progress of a run comprises a substantially sired andpreferably project from the surface of thebase at a slight anglethereto.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show one form of theinvention in which the base is in the form of a substantially circulardisk 15 having a plurality of small material engaging teeth 16 struckupwardly on one side thereof at a slight angle.

The form shown in Figs. 3 and 4. is similar tothat of Fig. 1 except thatthe center of the disk has been removed to provide a base in the form ofan annular rim 17 which has a plurality of teeth 18 formed on the inneredge of the rim.

Fig. 5 is substantially the same in'construction as the form shown inFig. 3, the annulaibase 19 in this instance beingeloagatgdtg prpVlie-.arcata@attesitea tears.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a ring 20 formed of wire or the like supports theannular series of L luna.. o

n. se L [sesam material engaging teeth 21 of the same matee rial. Thistype of support Would, of course, be colored to correspond with thecolor of the fabric to be supported.

The modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9 comprises a suitable base 22such as one siinilar to that employed in the form shown in Fig. l,having a plurality of separately formed material engaging teeth 23inserted through and secured to the base.

Each of the modified forms above described are substantially the same infunction, differing only in construction to adapt the supporting meansto meet different requirements as presented by different material andfabrics. The temporary supporting use of the device is shown in Fig. 1.When a tear or break 24C occurs in the fabric 25, the base of one of thedevices is positioned immediately over the hole in the fabiic with theteeth on the device engaging the unbroken material thereabout.Preferably the device is applied upon the inner side of the fabric inwhich position only the small points of the teeth may be visible. In thecase of aY stocking, for example, they device is inserted in thestocking to engage the inner side of the fabric. In this position thetension of the stocking holds the base of the device firmly against t-heivearers limb to prevent accidental disengagement of the teeth from thefabric. The teeth are varranged radially With respect to the break toresist any pull or Istrain on the fabric and hold the broken threadagainst any force Which Would pull the thread to enlarge the l hole orcause a run. Thus a temporary holding device is provided Which may beapplied to the fabric as soon as a rupture occurs or is noticed andwhich Will remain in place to prevent any further run or enlargementthereof until such time as a permanent repair can Y be made. j v

` I have shown, in Figs. 10 and 11, a means to be used in conj unctionWith the temporary holding means, by Which the material is held in thesame manner as With the temporary means While a permanent repair of thebreak is made. In this instance this repairing means comprises a plate26 having both ends 274 reversed upon itself to overlie one sidethereof. The ends 27 stop short of the center of the plate to provide agap 28 therebetween, and the surface of each end is provided With aplurality of small teeth V29 preferably struck upwardly from thematerial.

When one of the temporary holding devices has been applied to the innerside of the material to stop a run and it is desired to mend the fabric,the lstocking is removedfrom the wearer and the teeth upon the repairingplate 26 are engaged in the fab-ric at the opposite side of the fabric.With the hole in the fabric It Will be apparent from the foregoing deyscription that I have provided a simple and effective means forarresting the enlargement of a hole in a piece of material, and that Ihave further provideda means for facili# tating the repair of such ahole which means cooperates ywith the temporary means in holding` thefabric during the transfer of the material from one to the other. v

I claim as my invention:

l. A temporary repair means for preventing` the enlargement of holes infabric cnprising, in combination, a substantially invisible basel and aplurality of small members projecting ltherefrom adapted to engage Vthefabric about a hole therein to prevent the n hole from being enlarged bystrain.

2. A temporary repair means for prevent- Y' -ing` the enlargement ofholes in fabric comprisn'ig, in combination, a base colored so to besubstantially invisible When used with a piece of fabric, and aplurality of sharp teeth projecting from said baseadapted to beengaged.l in said fabric about a hole 'therein to prevent enlargement ofthe hole.

3. A means for facilitating the repairl of a piece of materialcomprising, in combination, a device having means engaging the materialin each direction about a damaged portion thereon, and a second deviceadapted to enga-ge the opposite side of the material from said firstmentioned device, said second device having an opening therein to exposesaid damaged portion for repair.

4. A means for facilitating .the repair of a piece of materialcomprising, in combina tion, a temporary device including a plurality ofmaterial engaging means substantially grouped about a common point andengaging; the material radially about a damaged portion thereof placedadjacent said point, and arepair device adapted to engage the oppositeside of the material from said temporary device to hold said materialWhen said temporary device is removed, said repair de-` vice including aplurality of material engaging teeth disposed aboutsaid device toprovide a space free of teeth to permit a dam-- aged portion positionedWithin said space to be repaired. n Y l In testimony whereof, I havehereunto affixed my signature.

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